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Police see drop in spice-related calls

This photo provided by the Minnesota Department of Human Services shows synthetic marijuana which appear on its new Website launched Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014. The site, knowthedangers.com, aimed at giving children and parents more information about the dangers posed by synthetic drugs. (AP Photo/Minnesota Department of Human Services)(Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Although there are nearly 100 people in Montgomery believed to have been harmed by synthetic marijuana within the last month, law enforcement are seeing the number of calls related to side effects from the drug going down.

Martha Earnhardt, spokesperson for the Montgomery Department of Public Safety, said that from April 9-27, law enforcement and emergency personnel responded to 88 medical calls involving 96 patients believed to have taken part in synthetic marijuana, also known as "spice." Of the 96 patients treated, 89 were male and seven were female.

However, the number of calls related to possible "spice" impairment have been fewer than in previous weeks. As of Tuesday afternoon, personnel had responded to one call Monday regarding a male who may have been under the influence of the drug. In 2011, synthetic marijuana was banned in Alabama.

"The Montgomery Police Department continues to investigate, but the number of calls is declining and MPD believes it is because of the strong public education efforts that have helped warn people about the dangers of it," Earnhardt said.

On April 17, a 54-year-old woman was found dead in her Southlawn-area home with "spice" ingredients and materials surrounding her body, leading law enforcement to believe the drug was the cause of her death. Symptoms from "spice" usage can include violent behavior, elevated blood pressure and hallucinations.

Across Alabama, officials are reporting that between March 15 and April 20, nearly 400 people between March 15 and April 20 had experienced symptoms linked to synthetic marijuana usage. Nearly 100 hospitalizations and two deaths have been reported statewide.

Officials from various state agencies will meet at the U.S. Attorney's office today in Montgomery to discuss the dangers of synthetic marijuana in the community, as well as other drugs. Attorney General Luther Strange is expected to appear, as well as Secretary of Law Enforcement Spencer Collier and other officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and others.